News

Making Hackney Central greener and better for everyone – have your say

Local people’s views will be put at the heart of plans to reclaim Hackney Central from cars after Hackney Council launched a campaign to listen to their experiences of walking, cycling and using public transport in the area.

The Hackney Central Conversation asks residents how they get around in an area where people who walk, cycle and use buses and trains fight for space with polluting cars – as well as seeking their views on the future of the town centre.

The conversation comes after Hackney Council won £10m of funding from Transport for London to transform Hackney Central by reducing traffic and redesigning its three dangerous junctions – Pembury Circus, Mare Street/Graham Road and Mare Street/Morning Lane. However, before developing detailed plans, the Council wants people to have their say on getting around in the area.

Hackney Central is already seeing change – like the Hackney Walk fashion district, a new music venue at St John at Hackney Church, new shops, bars and breweries in Bohemia Place, the pedestrianisation of the Narrow Way to support local traders, shoppers and cyclists and early proposals for the Tesco site on Morning Lane, which are currently being consulted on.

The Council wants to ensure any changes to the town centre benefit local people and businesses for the long term, and as part of the conversation is also asking residents to have their say on what they value and what they would like to see improved in their town centre. The Council will then work residents, businesses and other stakeholders in the town centre to deliver these improvements to the area.

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We’re ambitious about reclaiming our borough for people, by creating a road network that serves first and foremost the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users. By focusing on active travel and healthy streets we can reduce the air pollution that’s harming our children’s developing lungs and impacting upon everybody’s health.

Hackney Central is congested, polluted, and difficult to get around by bike or on foot.That’s why we’ll be focusing on radically reimagining this space for the benefit of all.

After securing funding from TfL, we want to make sure this unique opportunity to transform and reclaim it for local people reflects as many views as possible, which is why I’m urging everyone to get involved in the Hackney Central Conversation and tell us what they think about getting around the area.

Cllr Jon Burke, Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm

We know that local people are proud of what makes the area great, especially as Hackney Central is the civic heart of the borough; but we also know the area is becoming more attractive to new residents, businesses and developers – and that further change is on the way.

We’re encouraging people to take part in the Hackney Central Conversation so we can make sure our town centre provides what local people want, and work to encourage the types of shops, restaurants and businesses our communities want to see – rather than just letting market and developer led change happen to our high street.

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney

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Residents and businesses have been invited to workshops on getting around in Hackney Central, which will take place in July. The Council will be inviting residents to further workshops throughout the summer and is hosting street stalls on the Narrow Way at 1-4pm on 26 July and 2 August, where residents can also have their say.